Every year many people make the
transition from school into university. Considered by many to be
the best time of their lives, university is the first time that
many leave the nest and enjoy independence and responsibility
for themselves, but it is also a time fraught with challenges.
While the thrill of not living
with your parents might be enticing, moving into university
halls means having to do your own laundry, the possibility of
fire-alarms going off at inconvenient times and having to endure
the sometimes less-than-satisfactory food in the student halls
canteen. While it is only natural to start feeling a bit
homesick after the initial rush of independence has worn off,
most find that living in student halls is a good first step
towards adulthood and a place to meet friends for life.
There's also the case of
independent study. You might have found it easy to do well and
do your homework in school when you were in a class of 20-30
students and your teacher knew both yours and all your
classmates' names and how you were holding up, but it might be
different for you to be in a freshman class of 300 and
responsible for your own progression. Many undergraduates find
that, to begin with at least, the lure of cheap drinks and
non-compulsory lectures can take its toll on their studying
habits. It is therefore vital to sit down and plan studying
times at the beginning of term to avoid having to cram an entire
textbook in one night before an important exam.
Managing your own money can
also be a tricky task. While you may have been able to get a
student maintenance grant or loan, there are many temptations
for how to spend your money - maybe you've set your eyes on a
nice guitar in a local music shop, or maybe you've seen ads for
cheap flights to cities you've never been before. In order to
avoid any nasty end-of-term surprises, it is a good idea to set
a budget for each week and follow it as closely as possible.
If you do have any valued
possessions you plan on bringing with you as you move out of the
family home, perhaps a laptop or games console, make sure you
take out
student insurance in order to prepare for any eventualities.
Living communally will greatly increase the amount of people who
enter your place of residence, increasing the likelihood of
things being stolen or damaged.
If you do find you are having
difficulties adapting to the changes that come with going to
university, see what kind of resources are available from your
own university. Most universities will have some sort of advice
centre or helpline to answer any queries you have.
So if you are one of those many
people looking to start university this autumn, try to remember
the preceding advice but above all, enjoy yourself and take in
all that student life has to offer.
